July 16, 2009 9:00am by David Farrar

Labour on leaky homes

Labour MP Phil Twyford fears the new Super City will abandon leaky-house victims and escape claims worth millions of dollars.

Good to know Labour not accepts there is a problem. I recall first of all Goerge Hawkins doing nothing for months and years on end despite explicit letters telling him of the problem and urging action.

But most famously we had Helen Clark on radio declaring that it is not a big issue at all, and it was just the NZ Herald “banging on” about things. Yep she attacked the NZ Herald for covering the issue. Weren’t they the good old days?

The new Super City law says all assets and liabilities of the old councils will pass to the new structure, he said.

“But what about claims where liability has not yet been established but where, in the case of leaky homes, the construction and certification took place pre-Super City and under the old councils?” Mr Twyford asked. …

Mr Hide said the Super City law made it clear that the new council would assume responsibility for the rights and obligations of all the old councils.

On November 1 next year, when the councils are dissolved, all the rights, liabilities, contracts, entitlements and engagements of each existing local authority would become those of the new Auckland Council, Mr Hide said.

I think Phil should stick to promoting the rights of parents to vote on behalf of their children, instead of silly scare-mongering. Of course the new Council will have the same liabilities and responsibilities of the old Councils with regard to leaky homes. Did he think of talking to a lawyer before he talked to his press secretary?